skip to main |
skip to sidebar
This one is getting a lot of local media attention in Fresno. KRZR had been active rock for more than 20 years, and now has changed to "103.7 The Beat" (R & B oldies format). That's geared toward a different age group and audience.
The next one is technically not a complete format change. How about this? A station changes everything except morning drive. Killeen-Temple TX changes 101.7 from "The Eagle" (a rock station) to sports radio, yet keeps its syndicated Walton & Johnson morning show. We'll count it as a format change, but it sure will be interesting to see if or how much morning drive moves on the ratings scale over the next few months.
Finally, this one is almost too small to count. WDRD in Newburg KY (technically considered part of the Louisville market) has gone ESPN Radio sports in order to get ESPN back into that market. However, the station is only 1,000 watts during the day and barely 450 watts at night. Not to mention this move takes place as we close in on the least amount of "daytime" hours during the entire year.
It's one time when a radio station or network listens to some of its audience, and the reason is merely a fuss about a commercial?In case you missed the story, the Buffalo Bills Radio Network decided to pull a commercial from one of its sponsors after 2 weeks based on fans protest. Say what?Granted the commercial was from a web dating site which is designed to be for those who are currently married or in a relationship and might be seeking something "extra". This is not to say that I agree that such a web site is an ideal thing, but it's not up to me. I have seen and heard commercials for the organization in question via other sources, and simply exercise my right not to participate, as is the case with the majority of commercials I take in during the course of a day.Yet, these people don't complain about erectile dysfunction and female hygiene commercials. Or if they do, the station doesn't pull them.Radio stations should listen more to what the listeners have to say. But about the programming and NOT the commercials. Heck, if no one uses the "service" in question, the commercials won't be effective, and they'll go away. http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20100922_Station_divorces_ads.html
Active rock goes inactive in Albany NY. And not even for a different format for the market. The WHRL is gone and now simulcasts News/Talk WGY as WGY-FM. In Burlington VT 96.7 FM has moved up more than 30 years, dropping its oldies format in favor of playing the hits of today as Planet 96.7. This is the sort of innovation that has AM/FM radio where it is today. One less music station to be replaced by something already on the air, and a station changing paths to now play the hits of the day.
WQFM Nanticoke PA has taken off its oldies format and sped ahead to a 90's alternative format. Now it will be known as WFUZ. I would have thought that "fuzzy" would have been better suited for oldies, but they didn't ask me.
Charleston SC area now has a third country station, and one less playing classic hits. WIOP 95.9 reportedly started the change by playing Alan Jackson's song "Gone Country".
Another attempt at "Mojo Radio" is working in Fargo ND. KMJO (get it?) 104.7 started working earlier this month.
Thanks to "reader" Jeff for the suggestion that we report on as many of the radio station format change announcements as possible around the country. He makes a good point that there hasn't been another good resource which consistently offers such info.
A new format is coming any minute now in Atlanta, as "Legend 96.7" and its country music format have been replaced. For now, the station is simulcasting "Groove 105.7", but that shouldn't last long. I do mean "shouldn't". There are 2 sides to this coin. I'm sure station officials figure that people will keep tuning over to 96.7 while awaiting whatever new format, and that it is a good way to hype the "Groove" format.
On one hand, there will be some people picking up on The Groove format, but won't realize they have to change over to 105.7 for it to continue. They could wind up thinking "The Groove" is gone when the station changes over to whatever it is going to do.
On the other hand, not tipping what the new format will do keeps any possible competitors in the local market from getting a jump, while curious radio listeners will monitor from time to time to see if and when the new format kicks off.
My feeling is they should have waited and gone to the new format within 24 hours. They forget that FM and AM Radio have so much competition and that listeners are no longer hanging around helplessly dependening upon radio. The question is whether or not people will break away from their MP3 players, portable phones, satellite radios, and other technology just to sample a "new" FM station.
Near Denver, KTNI Strasburg dumped its talk format and went R & B with Jammin' 101.5. Unlike the Atlanta story, KTNI pulled the switch right after a syndicated talk show (that it now used to carry) ended and rolled out the music. Since the station is actually located east of Denver, the station is already streaming, supposedly to enhance their "coverage" of the Denver market.
I'm not sure that going for the Denver market is going to work for the bottom line in this instance. They need to spend in order to promote the online "coverage" in Denver, as if people will be interested in a regional station over a true Denver station. And that's provided they are not distracted by the hundreds of online channels they could or may already be listening to.
More format change stories later in the week............
Fans of San Diego's Top 40 KCBQ from the late 50's into the mid-70's have a major treat coming up this Saturday, August 28th, when many of its former air personalities and other officials will gather to honor this once great station by dedicating a monument to be displayed on the site of the studios back in the day.
Here is the information:
http://www.falconvalleygroup.com/newsroom.php?id=129 For those who don't have your memories to listen to, keep in mind that airchecks are available today at:http://www.MajorLeaguePrograms.com So, yes, you can have the best of both worlds!
I have loved radio since I can remember. It got me interested in music and sports as a kid and that never stopped, and inspired early career decisions to make a living working for radio stations and networks.Over the past few years, I have observed helplessly as radio lost its competitive edge (primarily due to the drastic change in ownership restrictions), reduced its music playlists, started reporting sports rumors and speculations as if they were "news", and began to cluster more commercial time into a single break than they used to air during a full hour. During that same time, I have noticed how millions of others feel the same way, and thus the success of MP3 players, satellite radio (20 million subscriptons paying for a lot of content we used to get free), and online channels.Just when you think the current radio industry can't make it worse, along comes this bit of news:http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=1919285 Are you kidding? The National Association of Broadcasters wants to make radio "mandatory" in cell phones? First question. At who's expense?Second question. How often can the police pull over a driver, bike rider, or even a power walker about listening on ear buds while on the road?If it's up to me, we should all demand that the members of the NAB pay for the 20 million satellite radio subscriptions and the millions of "replacement" cell phones for everyone in America who currently owns one. That's the one way their proposal has any merit.Whoever thought up this ploy should be sentenced to listen to his or her own station 24 hours a day for 10 years. It would save prison space, and probably have the same effect.This story had better be a hoax.
